Dispensing device



April 16, 1935. A TAURMAN DISPENSING DEVICE Filed July 2, 1954.

Patentecl Apr. 1 6, 1935 UNITED STAT'ES 'PATENT OFFICE DisPENsrNG` DEvIcE Alphonso Taurman, Birmingham, Ala. Application July 2, '1934, Serial No. 733,466-

s'olaim's.. (cl; 221-95) i My invention relates to dispensing devices, and more particularly to a device for removal of the contents of a sealed container'with a minimum of access of air thereto. i

One object of my invention is to provide a simple dispensing device through which substances in sealed containers may be dispensed without access of air thereto, and which may be so economically manufactured that it may become a part of the sealed containers in which such substances are regularly marketed without unduly increasing the packaging cost. 'I A further object of my invention is to provid a dispensing device fo'r granular merchandise containers which shall include a valve locked in closed position and providing a substantially air tight seal when closed, and a measuring device adapted to cooperate with the valve mechanism to unlock the valve and move it to open position, and which may not be removed from the container until the valve is again in closed position.

As is well known in the art to vwhich my invention relates, there 'are a number of granular substances marketed'for household use which should be protected 'against free contact of the atmosphere until used up. Among such substances are the hygroscopic cleaners and washing powders which cake upon absorbing moisture from the air, and food products which loose their flavor by volatilization andl possibly oxidation, such, for example, as 'coffee and tea; It is accordingly a particular object of my inventio-n to provide a dispensing device'by means of which measured quantities of. such .substances may be removed from the containers, with a minimum access of air thereto.

Briefiy, my invention comprises a rotary valve structure formed in av containertop and embodying means for locking the valve in closed position, in which position it provides an effective air seal. The valve structure preferably does not extend above the level Sof the perimeter of the vtop so that it does not interfere with packing the containers on top of each other for shipping. Access to the contents of the container is provided by a measuring cup having means to unlock the valve and move it itoopen position, and which forms an effective air seal with the ,opening, and the cup may only be removed from engagement with the valve structure when the Valve is in closed position.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a container having my improved 'dispensing device applied thereto and showing the valve in closed position;

Fig. 2 is ,a view similar to Fig. 1 and showing the valve in open position i of the container.

Fig. 6 is a view of the top of the container with the valve structure removed;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view along the line VII-VII of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the valve removed from the container top; A

Fig. 9 is an edge view of Fig. 8; and v p Fig. 10 is a, plan view of the valve seat removed from the container top. i

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, I show a'container Ill vadapted particularly for granular household products. The container IO is provided with a cover I I secured thereto in any approved manner; Preferably the cover IIV is formed with a depression toward its center with respect to the outer edges'l thereof, in order to accommodate the valve structure of my improved dispensing device without said valve structure extendng above'the level of the outer edges.

Referring particularly to Figs. 6 and 7, the cover II is provided with a central circular opening |3 formed so as to provide an overhanging fiange I 4, which fiange is cut to provide diametri-l lslots have their edges turned over to provide rounded ears |8 which act las guides forzthe valve Operating device, yet to be described. The outer walls of the slots are also cut back to providesmaller notches I toaccommodatc the valve looking device employed with my invention.

Fitting across the opening |3 and secured thereto in air-tight relation, is a valve seat it. See Figs. 3 and 10. The valve seat is provided with segmental ports 2| and with a valve stop 22 formed .to protrude upwardly a slight distance from its surface and which comes directly beneath the overhanging flange I4 of the opening E3. Mounted on the valve seat I 9 between said valve seat and ythe overhanging flange I d, is a rotary valve 24 which is tightly held by means of a central rivet 23, but which permits rotary movement of the valve with respect to its seat. The rotary valve is provided with segmental'ports 26 which, when the'valve is in an open position, are adapted to register with the ports ZI of the valve seat and permit removal of the contents When the valve is in a closed position, the solid portions'Z'I thereof lie flat upon the solid portions of the valve seat, with considerable overlap as may be seen in Fig. 1, so as to form an air-tight seal with respect to the seat. The effectiveness of this seal may beenhanced,

if desired, by a light coating of paraifin, or similar substance, on the upper surface of the seat.

The valve 2d is formed with an outer channel 28 extending above the solid portions 21 of the valve, and which bears tightly against the overhanging fiange |4 of the opening 13. so as to hold the solid portions of the valve and its seat in tight engagement when the valve is closed.

The channel 28 is provided With diametrically opposed depressions 29 and 3 I in which are located resilient latch members 32 which are adapted to t into the notches |5 and lock the Valve 24 in its closed position. The valve, 24 is also provided. with stop members 33 and 34 which extend downwardly into the outer channel 28 and which are adapted to engage with the stop member 22 on the Valve seat I!! When the valve is in its open and in its closed positions.

The valve 24 is rotated on' its seat to open position and access is had to the contents of the container by means of a, measuring cup 3.6 provided with diametrically opposed lugsZ 31 and 38, which are adapted to be entered in the slots IB' and i'i. in the overhanging r'lange M. and into the depressions 29 and 3|. The lugs 31 and 38, when the cup 35 is pressed downwardly on the container, also serve to depress the` resilient latches: 32 so as to disengage same from the edges of the notches in the flange 14. When this is done, the valve 24 may be turned in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen in the drawing, until the stop ember 34 of the valve engages the stop member 22 of the valve seat, at which time the valve is in open position. In. this. position the lugs 31 and arebeneath thefiange 14 and the outer edge 3d of the measurng cup is bearing tightly against the circulai'solid. portion. 'll of the valve M, thereby preventing access of air to the interior of the container, except such small amount of air as was contained in the cup. When it was placedupon the valve..

The container may now be inverted andl the granular contents thereof will fill the cup 36, but. the cup can not be removed until it is again turned to the closed position of the valve 24. When in this position the cup may be removed and the resilient latch members .32 again engage with the notches E5, looking the valve in. itsclosed position.

The container Hi and the valve structure shown may be made of any suitable material which, may be molded. or shaped as-herein shown and de.- scribed. The invention, is particularly adapted for metallic containers such as are commonly employed for packaging tea, coffee, and certain. household cleansing agents. Its adaptability for use with various substances and made from a variety of different materials Will at once be appreciated by those slrilled in the art.

From the foregoing, it will be .apparent that I have devised a simple dispensing device whichI is extreinely economical of manufacture and which protects the contents of' the container from harmful effects of the atmosphere, and which permits'- removal of the contents of the container without undue access of air thereto.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in.A the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, Without departing from the' spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposedv by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in. the appended claims..

What I claim` is:

1. A dispensing device for closed contai'ners comprising a rotary valve structure adapted to seal against the atmosphere, a looking device included in the valve structure for looking the valve and holding it in closed position, a measuring cup, means thereon to cooperate with the looking device to unlock the valve and turn it to open position, and means to hold the measuring cup in engagement with the valve structure until the valve is moved to closed position.

2. In a dispensing device for closed containers, a cover having an opening therein providedl with an overhanging flange, a valve seat having ports therein and extending across the 'opening beneath the flange, a rotary Valve membei' interposed and fitting snugly between the valve seat and the overhanging fiange, said valve. member having ports therein corresponding to the ports of the valve seat, resilient latch means to lock the valve in closed position, a

measuring` cup having means thereon to cocperate with the resilient latch meansand unlock the valve and move it to open position, said latter means: beingV adaptcd to bear against the overhanging fiange and: hold the measuring cup in engagement With the valve until said valve is again moved to closed position.

3-. In a dispensing device for granular merchandise containers, a valve seat having ports thereingiving access to the interior of the coni tainer, a rotary valve having similar ports mounted on the seat, a central axis pin passing through the valve and` seat to hold the valve centrally on its seat, means limiting movement of the valve with` respect to thev seat to wide open and shut positions and sov positioned asto provide considerable overlap for the valve when it is in closed position, and a flangeon thel container structure bcaring against the valve for holding the outer portion of the valve in` tight engagement with the seat.

4. In a dispensing device for granular merchandise containers, a valve seat having ports therein giving accessto the interor ofV the containena rotary valve having similar ports mounted on the seat, means limiting movement of the valve with respect to the seat to. wide open and shut positions. and so positioned ,as to provideV considerable overlapfor the valve whenit is in closed position, a flange on the container structure bearing against the valve for holding the valve in tight engagement with' the seat, and a locking mechanism coacting betweeen the valve and the flange for automatically looking the valve' in closed position.

5. In, a dispensing device for granular merchandise containers, a` valve seat having ports therein giving access. to the interior of the containena rotary Valve having similar ports mounted on the seat, means limiting movement of the valve with respect to the seat to wide open and shut positions andso positioned as to provide considerable overlap for' the valve when it is in closed position, a fiangeon the container structure bearingV against the valve for holding the valve in tight engagement with the seat, a looking mcchanism coacting between the valve and the fiange for automatically locking the valve in closed position, a measuri'ng cup, and means on the cup to coact with the looking mechanism and move the valve to open` position, said means coacting with the fiange to hold the cup in tight engagement with: the valve when it is in open position..

ALPHoNso TAURMAN. 

